Triple Problem, Triple Solution
At night, the group of destined kids took a rest in a clearing near the outside of the forest, as recent events forced them to regain some energy. While they tasted the delicious berries (even more mixed with the honey that Queen Vespiqueen gave them) they began to count their provisions and realized that they were somewhat short of water.
"Surely we can get more at the spring," Dylan suggested.
(The next morning…)
The group of heroes moved forward resolutely as they thought about the possibility of acquiring some more water at the spring. In addition to the food and equipment Kandia had given them, they had also been given a map with some indications of what they might find along the way.
"Let's see…" Rose said as she read the map, "The spring ahead is a recreation spot for several Pokemon… among them water and grass types, but there's great diversity like…"
"Beautiflys!" Mina exclaimed as she watched a pair fly above them.
Like the day before, there was also a flock of Taillows taking to the skies as they got closer and closer to the aforementioned place. The abundant shrubs and thick oaks gradually thinned out to make way for a flat, grassy field. The spring was a large lake with many rocks submerged in the water on the sides. To one side, a large turmoil of mountainous grass is attached to the side, with additional rocks placed on top. The clear and crystalline waters reflected the brightness of the morning sun, consequently causing a tiny rainbow in comparison to one seen after the rain.
But there was a small detail to make it look like a paradise: there were no Pokemon enjoying a delicious bath as would be natural in a hot season.
"Not that there was a diversity of Pokemon?" Zack asked.
"That's what the map and the notes said," said Flora, rolling up the map and putting it back in the bag, "Where is everyone?"
"Maybe they've gone to eat something" Dylan inquired, "Anyway, let's get some water and then we'll figure out where they've all gone…"
From an empty bottle they had since they started the journey, Dylan carefully approached to pick up some water since he was the one with (due to his Pokemon form) opposable thumbs and could freely approach water (Rex was a fire type and not It didn't suit him at all). But just as he dunked the bottle, a hand grabbed him tightly and he flung the bottle. The others rushed to help him, but this hand released him and Dylan stepped back to join his friends.
The rest of the hand surfaced: the thing was blue and round, with an intimidating look and great muscles. On his stomach, which was white, he had a drawing of a black spiral. It was a Polywrath. And not just one; when the first appeared, two others followed it to the surface.
"This spring is just for us!" yelled the first.
"You are our sacred lands!" said the second.
"The lands of the Poliwrath brothers!" shouted the third.
The group of destined kids were on the defensive, but if it was true that these were their lands, there was no point in fighting for something that was rightfully theirs.
"Excuse me, Mr. Poliwrath," Rose approached, "We are traveling to Azurview and we need some supplies, could you give us some water?"
But, as if they were one of those old curmudgeons who don't want anyone near their property, they yelled at them:
"NO!"
Then, they sent Rose falling flat on her face. Seeing that, Zack stood in front while he had the feeling that his body radiated electricity ready to shoot.
"You don't have to be so rude and selfish!" he told the Poliwrath, "We just asked for some water!"
But when he finished saying that, the first Poliwrath hit him with its huge fist and sent him flying, and he would have gone higher if Rose hadn't caught him. Annoyed by it, Zack already wanted to start the battle.
"Wait Zack" Mina stopped him, "If this is their land, we don't have the right to start a fight over water. We can find out later."
"He's right" supported Rex, "It's not right to fight against them because they defend their land"
Zack had to withhold electricity from him. So, they had to forcibly turn from the spring until they found a small stream where they could rest, especially Zack, from the encounter with the Poliwrath brothers. So they set up their second camp and collected what they could get from that little spring.
"Hey!" Rose said within five seconds of putting the suitcase down, "Where's our backpack?"
The others immediately noticed the absence of that object, it was necessary: there was their food for the next few days and also their medicinal supplements, that is, the berries.
"Over there!" Luke yelled as soon as he took flight to get a better look, "It… is it moving?"
The backpack was moving at high speed where the tall grass began, and Luke accelerated to catch it, managing to recover it and... have a stowaway hanging from it: an Oddish
"Help me!" the little Pokemon yelled before falling down. Fortunately, Rose caught him.
The next second Luke landed with the backpack in his grasp.
"Why were you trying to rob us?" Dylan asked somewhat annoyed.
Poor Oddish felt cornered and wanted to cry.
"Okay, okay…" Rose tried to soothe, "I'm sure you had a reason for that. You still owe us an explanation."
"I just wanted…" Oddish said timidly, "Help Mr. Carracosta from his injuries…"
"Mr. Carracosta?" Rex asked, "Who is he?"
"The old caretaker of the spring…" explained little Oddish, "He took care of the Pokemon of the spring until those Poliwrath came and claimed the place as their own…they beat him up and drove us out…"
"I already thought so!" Zack exclaimed, "I knew those scoundrels didn't look trustworthy! The spring does not belong to them, they have taken over that place"
"Please" the Oddish begged them, "I just want to help Mr. Carracosta"
"Okay, we'll help you" Mina told him, "We'll expel those egoists and help whoever is hurt"
"Which do we do first?" Luke asked.
"Since you're the flyer," Rex suggested, "You take Oddish and the backpack with Mr. Carracosta. Be sure to give him a couple of Aranja Berries so he can fully recover. The rest of us, we're going after those Poliwrath, what do you think?"
They all agreed to the plan. Then, Luke took the backpack while Oddish held onto it again, then they flew low to avoid a nasty fall. For their part, the others returned to the spring.
As soon as they approached, the three Poliwrath burst to the surface with a force that sent the surroundings splashing. Seeing the chosen boys again, the first Poliwrath shouted again:
"Intruders! you again?"
"We already told you that these are our lands!" shouted the second, "We will not share our holy water!
"Get the hell out or we'll tear you to shreds!" shouted the third.
"Stop lying!" Mina yelled back, "You're just land thieves. We know everything"
"It's true, this spring belongs to other Pokemon and you have hurt and kicked them out" Zack confronted them, "You are nothing but bullies!"
"Give them back the spring!" Rose told them.
"Never!" the first Poliwrath yelled as he tried to crush them all with his massive fists. Fortunately, the chosen kids jumped back quickly to avoid turning to mush.
"Focus Punch!"
A massive punch from the second Poliwrath nearly hit Rex, but he smashed into the ground, leaving a large hole. The other kids also dodged the huge blows that were destroying more and more of the place.
"Rex!" Dylan yelled at him as he dodged the third Poliwrath's body slam, "Gotta do it!"
"All right!" he replied at the same time that he took his device, "Let's evolve!"
Then, as if the devices responded better, the light emanated from the word 'evolve' and their bodies began to change again.
"Charmander evolves to... ¡Charmeleon!"
"Froakie evolves to... ¡Frogadier!"
Now, in their second form, they were ready to fight.
"Flame thrower!"
"Bubble beam!"
Both attacks combined in midair, the bubbles spiraling around the flamethrower creating a more powerful attack that knocked down a Poliwrath. But the brothers were not going to give up just there:
"Rain Dance!" shouted one of the Poliwrath.
Instantly, the atmosphere changed: the raindrops cooled and humidified the environment, which meant that the fire attacks were almost totally useless. Rex felt his energy dwindle.
"Water gun!"
While he was distracted, that hit hit him full-on and left him tremendously weak: a water attack on a fire Pokemon, combined with rain, was almost lethal. The Charmeleon no longer had the strength to get up.
"I wont allow it!" Dylan said getting in front and using Double Team on him.
But the Poliwrath were smarter and, using the three of them together, the Water Gun attacked all the copies and hit the original. Although the attack was not that deadly for him, receiving the three combined attacks afterward was exhausting.
"It's our land now!" the Poliwrath closest to Dylan yelled, raising his fist to him in preparation to finish that off.
"Vine Whip!"
Rose's vines got tangled and stopped that gorilla's blow. When the other Poliwrath tried to help her brother get rid of the vermin, Zack attacked one and Mina the other.
"Spark!"
"Poison Sting!"
The electrical attack was effective for one of the Poliwrath, and the other had to retreat forcibly or else he would end up poisoned.
"Let's defeat them!" Zack yelled along with Mina and Rose.
Then, the three devices together began to shine... and it happened: the evolution process happened and they stopped being Shinx, Chikorita and Nidoran to be...
"Shinx evolve to... Luxio!"
"Chikorita evolves to... Bayleef!"
"Nidoran evolves to... Nidorina!"
After evolving, The Poliwrath were surprised at first by this triple evolution, but they immediately pulled themselves together. However, it was too late for them:
"Razor Leaf!" Rose yelled waving the new blade of hers over her head.
A flurry of razor leaves shot toward the Poliwrath. Two of them dodged, but the third was not so lucky and was hit and injured heavily by the grass attack.
"Damn!" another of the Poliwrath pounced with his massive fists.
"Thunder shock!"
Zack discharged a strong electric shock on the second Poliwrath, who screamed in pain for being a Water-type Pokemon. While the third also tried to defend his brother, it was Mina's turn to attack:
"Double kick!"
With her hind legs, Mina hit the third Poliwrath hard on the head, who was left quite dazed by the blow. Then, when he returned to the ground, the Poliwrath countered with his Water Gun, but by clasping her hands, Mina created a protective field around her.
"Woah..." Realizing what she had done, "That was... Protection?"
The Poliwrath was now furious that he tried to hit her with his fists, but Mina jumped towards a rock and, taking momentum from it, delivered a strong headbutt to the stomach of the last Poliwrath. This one, feeling the pain in his stomach, fell exhausted begging:
"No more please..."
"Okay, then pick up your brothers and get out of here" Zack warned them, "You must leave this place to its true owners and not take anything by force again"
With a nervous face at the Luxio's gaze, the last Poliwrath had to pick up his brothers and quickly move away from the place. Fortunately, neither of them was fatally injured, but so much so that they would not be able to move for at least a week or more. Then, they left the place at the same time as the rain ended.
"That was great guys!" Rex congratulated them.
"That was sudden" Mina confessed, "I didn't expect that the three of us could evolve…"
But, just in time, the evolution ended and everyone went back to the pre-evolution. However, the hardest part was over. It was then that the voice of Luke was heard, who arrived with Oddish, a few Woopers, Bellosom and Jumpluff, and of course, the aforementioned Mr. Carracosta, healed and recovered.
"Thank you very much to all of you" Mr. Carracosta told them once all the Pokemon returned to the spring, "You have returned the peace to this place and helped these little Pokemon to return to their refreshing recreation area. In reward, you can drink all the water you want."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Carracosta" the chosen children told him.
It was a perfect afternoon for a picnic as everyone (with the exception of Rex for obvious reasons) enjoyed some relaxation and fun time at the spring. When they had eaten and drunk, the group told Mr. Carracosta their objective.
"So you're looking for Alakazam in Azurview" he said upon hearing the story, "Well, you have to cross the ocean if you want to go fast"
"Yes, we already know" Mina said
"Well, if you want a transport, in the nearby Portual city there is a Wailor transport that can help you cross the sea for a certain amount of money"
"But, we don't have money…" Rex said.
"Um… Coincidentally, from what I've heard from some Taillow, it's going to be the town festival and there's going to be a flying competition to celebrate it. The winner will receive 2000 Poké as a reward and the title of aerial champion "
"So, we need a champion…" Dylan said as he and everyone else turned to see the last of the team that still lacked his evolution: Luke.